Seems like lately we’ve seen story after story about how one church or another didn’t do background checks that should have been done. So it was great to see the story in Christianity Today about how one church uses background checks and other tactics to preserve the safety of the children in its care.
The article is titled “Playing It Safe.” It’s about how they handle background checks and other security at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois.
You should read this piece whether you’re a church or a business or a day care center or any other kind of organization looking for best practices on security. I’m just going to hit some highlights.
The story quotes David Staal who is director of the church’s Promisland Program for children. Here’s a quote I loved. “Safety is one area you can’t ever compromise on or the whole ministry is at risk. You need to bat a thousand every time.”
That’s a good attitude for security anywhere. Here are some of the things Staal does that you can emulate.
The children’s program is in a secure area of the church. Access is limited. The church maintains a “No access” list for people not allowed in, and enforce it with a check-in procedure.
They also have a thorough application process for volunteers who want to work with children. It’s a good model for any application process. Here’s Staal’s description of it.
“The application process deters a lot of people. Because we ask a lot of personal questions, a child predator would have to lie on the application, hope that their background check doesn’t show anything, hope their references check out perfectly, and then face two interviewers who have the gift of discernment. Does this process guarantee we’ll never recruit a bad worker? Nothing is 100 percent. But the steps we use weed out the opportunists.”
Whether you’re a church or not, take a few moments to read the full article. You’ll find tips on the application process, ideas about physical security and much more.
“The application process deters a lot of people.”
Submitting a social security number and allowing access to personal information will naturally drive godly, clean record people away.
I do not trust a church who does not trust me. When I am appointed to a volunteer position, I would like to think they would know me well enough and long enough prior to the appointment.
And I have nothing to hide. We have had our personal information stolen from a home loan mortgage company and a medical group. The last thing I will do is turn over personal information to a church. This is wordly and non trusting of our fellow Christians. It also can be an open door for those in charge to know the income of its congregation…room for lots of abuse.
The children can be protected through easy access sexual offender reistries.